Meet Lakpa Rita Sherpa

Raised in Khumbu (Everest region) in the village of Thame, Lakpa Rita Sherpa has been professionally guiding and climbing around the world for nearly two decades. In 2013 Lakpa was named one of Outside Magazine’s Adventurers of the Year. His climbing and guiding achievements are significant, with 17 summits of Mt. Everest on over 23 expeditions (a record 253 climbers on the summit under his leadership) seven guided summits of Cho-Oyu and numerous other peaks in Nepal. In 2009 Lakpa became the first Sherpa and first Nepali to climb the Seven Summits.

Known as the "Best Sirdar in the Khumbu," Lakpa Rita is recognized by other mountain guides, sirdars and climbers for his unique expertise and experience, and is one of only a few Sherpas working as a full-time mountain guide around the world.

His legendary strength is veiled by his charm and humility. Lakpa lost 5 of his team’s Sherpas on April 18th, 2014 and he was recently featured on the Discovery Channel’s Everest Avalanche Tragedy documentary that addressed the accident.

THE JUNIPER FUND:

Supporting Local Mountain Workers and their Families and Communities.